Section archive - Technology & Computers

We report on a multi-method study that seeks to explore if, how and why secondary teachers use Facebook (FB) to interact with their students. Issues of privacy, authority, and even abuse have fueled socio-political debates on the desirability of teacher–student FB contact, leading some authorities to curtail or even prohibit such contact. Proponents of harnessing Web 2.0 and Social media technology for learning purposes, on the other hand, have emphasized the many potential advantages for formal and informal learning. However, there is little empirical research on the scope, the nature and the purposes for secondary school teacher–student contact through social network sites. The present study makes a first step in this direction, by triangulating teacher survey data (N = 187) with in-depth teacher interviews (N = 11).

The AVI CHAI Fund has released a new case study: “Ma’arav High School: An Organic Approach to Implementing Blended Learning in an Established School.” This case provides an in-depth look into a long-established Orthodox high school that is bringing online/blended learning into the school. The case study explores several factors that have influenced Ma’arav’s implementation of online/blended learning. As a long-established school, it has well-developed norms, a sense of school history, and places an importance on tradition. It has a strong reputation for high-quality academics in both general and Judaic studies. Finally, perhaps as a consequence of these factors, it has taken an “organic” approach to the incorporation of online/blended learning

The DigitalJ Learning Network of The Jewish Education Project, along with our partners at CAJE-Miami, is proud to announce the launch of Phase Two of an exciting partnership to support Jewish day schools in the Miami area. JBlend Miami has been in the works for the last two to three years. Originally dubbed “Blended and Online Learning Academy” – and later renamed by the teachers in the group – JBlend Miami is a community of educators from five Miami area Jewish day schools, coming together to learn about online and blended learning, and building capacity for change in their own schools.

Israeli high school students will be able to major in cyber studies in the coming school year, as part of an initiative the Education Ministry in conjunction with the IDF's cyber command announced on Sunday. The new program will be launched in 20 high schools nationwide when school resumes in September, 2015 and the ministry plans to gradually expand it. Students who choose to major in cyber studies will study five disciplines: information and communication technologies; information retention, sharing, and development; Internet and social media; information and informatics; and foreign languages in the cybersphere.